Gilvan Samico

Gilvan José Meira Lins Samico (Recife, Pernambuco, 1928 - same place, 2013) was an engraver, painter, designer and professor. In 1952, Gilvan Samico co-founded the Ateliê Coletivo da Sociedade de Arte Moderna do Recife (SAMR) together with other artists, an initiative conceived by engraver Abelardo da Hora (1924-2014). He studied woodcut printing with Lívio Abramo (1903-1992) in 1957 at the Escola de Artesanato do Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo (MAM/SP). The following year, he moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he studied printmaking with Oswaldo Goeldi (1895-1961) at the Escola Nacional de Belas Artes (Enba). He dedicated himself to creating elaborate textures with linear rhythms in his works.

 

In 1965, he settled in Olinda and taught woodcut printing at the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPA). In 1968, with the prize for an overseas trip obtained at the 17th Salão Nacional de Arte Moderna (SNAM), he spent two years in Europe. In 1971, he was invited by Ariano Suassuna (1927-2014) to join the Armorial Movement, focused on Northeastern popular culture and cordel literature. His production is characterized by the revival of Northeastern popular romances through cordel literature and the creative use of woodcut printing. His engravings are populated by biblical and other characters from local legends and narratives, as well as fantastic and mythical animals. Introducing a new theme, he brings about a formal simplification in his works, reducing the use of color and textures.